Originally launched by Microsoft last July, Windows recall was rapidly drawn in response to a barrage of security and privacy complaints. Now it is back, to make it more tasty for users with some tweex – but when it is capable, there are a lot of concerns about what happens.
If you are new to the story, recall is an AI-powered feature that works like a memory for your computer. It snaps regularly and analyzes the screenshot of what you are doing. It is easy if you want to go back to a document or message, which you remember three weeks ago, while at the same time you have many alarm bells in the context of all your previous window activity stored on your system.
I tested an early version of Windows recall at the end of last year, and found that it is really useful many times – which are ready to prepare with security and privacy problems. Back it was still in an incomplete form, missing with some basic features, such as the option to filter the snapshot by the app.
Remember lets you find through the images captured.
Credit: Microsoft
To remember today, you must have a Copilot+ PC with all the necessary AI processing power: if you have a compatible computer with the latest version of Windows, you will get a recall app on the Start menu. It will not be capable by default; Creating feature opt-in by Microsoft is one of the changes that have been unveiled after the wave of criticism, when it was first unveiled.
Microsoft has also made other changes. The data stored by recall is now more safely encrypted; Windows hello authentication requires and every time you want to access it; And sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, and official IDs are filtered – although it remains to be seen how effectively it works.
Are there enough changes to win the trust back to Windows Remember? It is certainly very difficult for someone else on the screenshot remembering the store, but there are questions about how well they are preserved – not only on your computer, but on someone else’s computer.
Remember still problems
Security researcher Kevin Beom I am digging The latest version of recall, and still has some worrying problems. The first is that someone else can access your PC and remember using your computer pin, if they can estimate it or trick it to reveal it: while necessary to remember biometric authentication, you can fall back to use a pin when you need to look or find through the screenshot.
Now it is not very different from someone who hacked your phone using your pin, and you may believe that no one else will hold your set of digits. However, if they do, recall provides these unauthorized visitors to your PC for everything you do because you set the feature.
What do you think so far?
Secondly, Beomont found that sensitive data is filtering hit and miss (something I saw in my test too): You can’t really rely on it to erase your credit card or your medical history details. If you are looking at this information, it is not a big issue, but it is difficult to guarantee.
Remember can be accessed through facial identification – or a simple pin.
Credit: Microsoft
Here’s another problem, highlighted by Tech technica: If you know someone who enables to remember, and is syncing photos and chats, then you have sent them to your computer, all that information is then flarened and sorted on their PC (think (think think (think Indication for WindowsFor example). Your data is more likely to be exposed, and you don’t even say it.
It seems that the emphasis on biometric authentication seems to be a clear fix, which can apply here, it can be applied here – it is very difficult for someone else to get on your data, whether it is on your PC or on someone’s PC you know. It still seems wrong that your email, photo, or chat may collect together in someone else’s recall library.
More strong filtering equipment will definitely help. Windows remember that you can already free some sites and apps from being screenshots, but it is a rather climate system, and better automatic sensoring will be welcomed. Meanwhile, you not only need to decide whether you are going to enable recall, you have to check with family and friends to see what they are doing.
